Within Konoha.
After learning that the frontline had collapsed and that Rasa had withdrawn, Maki and the other Sunagakure ninja who were attacking Konoha also began their retreat.
Maki forcibly woke Gaara—who had used the Feigning Sleep Technique to enter deep sleep and fully awaken the One-Tail, Shukaku. With the other Sand ninja acting as decoys to provide cover, Maki escaped Konoha with Gaara.
Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately understood—only if the frontline had already been decided in Konoha's favor would Sunagakure withdraw while protecting their jinchūriki.
Just as Hiruzen let out a sigh of relief, believing the war was finally over, Gamabunta—who had returned to Mount Myōboku earlier—was reverse-summoned to Konoha by Fukasaku and Shima.
Hiruzen recognized Gamabunta, Jiraiya's contracted toad.
Gamabunta didn't waste words and spoke bluntly:
"Jiraiya is fighting Naruto right now. Naruto intends to take revenge on Konoha!"
Hiruzen's body trembled violently. His face filled with disbelief as he blurted out:
"That's impossible!"
"Right now, Naruto is fighting your Konoha ninja. What exactly did Konoha do to him to make him want revenge? Back at Mount Myōboku, he was a good kid."
Gamabunta shook his head, then dispelled the summoning and returned to Mount Myōboku.
Hiruzen's figure seemed to stoop even further. He summoned Tsunade and Kakashi privately, deliberately not informing Danzō, and the three rushed toward the battlefield.
The battle between Naruto and the Konoha ninja was still ongoing.
Naruto had overestimated himself—and underestimated Jiraiya and the other Konoha jōnin.
After Might Guy opened the Seventh Gate and coordinated with Jiraiya, Naruto was forced almost entirely into defense. With Asuma, Kurenai, and the other elite jōnin supporting them, Naruto was unable to launch any effective counterattacks.
"Daytime Tiger!"
With the Seventh Gate open, Might Guy compressed the air and then released it in a single burst. The air cannon took the shape of a roaring tiger as it surged toward Naruto.
It was far too fast for Naruto to dodge—he could only cross his arms to block.
The moment Daytime Tiger struck, the sound of bones snapping rang out.
A massive crater formed where Naruto stood.
Naruto staggered as he rose to his feet, both arms hanging limp, before violently coughing up a mouthful of blood.
Seeing Naruto in such a miserable state, Jiraiya couldn't bear it any longer and pleaded once more:
"Naruto… turn back…"
"Hahaha…"
Naruto suddenly laughed.
Jiraiya frowned deeply. "What are you laughing at?!"
The laughter stopped abruptly. Naruto stared at Jiraiya coldly.
"I'm laughing at your naivety. Turn back? Why should I? I, Uzumaki Naruto, will never wrong myself just to become the 'good kid' you want me to be!"
"Kurama!"
With Naruto's roar, his form changed once again.
The crimson Tailed Beast chakra cloak transformed into a brilliant golden light, adorned with magatama markings and sealing patterns.
Naruto had entered Kurama Sage Mode.
In this state, he possessed all the traits of both Kurama Mode and Sage Mode simultaneously.
Under this overwhelming power, all of Naruto's injuries were instantly healed.
"Jiraiya, I should thank you all for pushing me to the brink of death. Only then could the already-damaged Eight Trigrams Seal—ruined by Danzō—finally shatter completely.
"Now Kurama's seal has been fully released. With Sage Mode enhancing my body, I can completely control Kurama's power!"
The Konoha ninja were utterly horrified. Just standing there, Naruto radiated an oppressive pressure that crushed them. The strength he displayed in this state was simply unimaginable.
Feeling the boundless power surging within him, Naruto looked up at the sun in the sky and took a deep breath.
"At last… I don't have to pretend anymore. The true revenge begins now."
Kurama warned him from within:
"Naruto, this Kurama Sage Mode is only possible because senjutsu chakra is reinforcing your body. Once your senjutsu chakra runs out, your body won't be able to withstand this mode."
"How much time do I have?"
"This mode consumes senjutsu chakra at an extreme rate. At most—five minutes!"
Naruto swept his gaze across the surrounding Konoha ninja.
"That's enough."
Might Guy, still in the Seventh Gate, unleashed Daytime Tiger once more.
The tiger-shaped air cannon was about to hit Naruto—
—but Naruto vanished.
The attack slammed into empty space.
Naruto's speed left even Jiraiya stunned.
"Flying Thunder God?! No—wait! It's not… just Body Flicker?!"
When Naruto reappeared, he was already in the middle of the crowd.
"Everyone, scatter!"
"Heh. Too late!"
"Sage Art: Ultra Big Ball Rasengan Barrage!"
Multiple Nine-Tails chakra arms erupted from Naruto's body, each palm holding a Massive Rasengan.
A blinding flash of light exploded outward—followed by a deafening detonation.
When the dust settled—
The ground was littered with the bodies of Konoha ninja who hadn't been able to escape in time.
Even those who survived by sheer luck were so gravely injured that death was inevitable.
…Damn it.
Jiraiya watched the scene in fury.
But his anger wasn't directed at Naruto.
It was directed at himself.
He had failed again.
He couldn't bring back Orochimaru after he strayed from the path.
He couldn't save Minato Namikaze, who died for Konoha.
And now—even his own student, Uzumaki Naruto, had turned against the village.
Jiraiya roared, biting his finger hard.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
As the smoke cleared, Fukasaku and Shima appeared atop Jiraiya's shoulders.
When the two Sage Toads saw Naruto standing amid the corpses in the distance, they were horrified.
"Little Jiraiya! What happened here?! Why would little Naruto seek revenge against Konoha?!"
Jiraiya replied bleakly:
"Boss… let's talk after this is over. For now—please help me stop Naruto."
Fukasaku and Shima exchanged a glance, then clasped their hands together in perfect sync.
"Demonic Illusion: Toad Confrontation Chant!"
The two Great Sages unleashed an immensely powerful auditory genjutsu through their toad song.
The croaking chant entered Naruto's ears, and he was unavoidably caught in the illusion—his body frozen in place.
Jiraiya used senjutsu chakra to manipulate his hair, sending it surging forward to bind Naruto.
But just as the hair was about to restrain him—
Naruto broke free of the genjutsu with Kurama's power.
"Sage Art: Wind Cutter!"
Razor-sharp wind blades severed Jiraiya's hair instantly.
"Sage Art: Wind Release—Rasengan!"
The shuriken-shaped Rasengan fully formed at last, and Naruto hurled it toward Jiraiya.
"Sage Art: Goemon!"
Jiraiya used oil, Fukasaku added Wind Release, and Shima added Fire Release. The three techniques combined into an enormous inferno, colliding with Naruto's Rasengan.
Both techniques detonated, canceling each other out.
The battle between Naruto and Jiraiya had reached a level where no one else could intervene.
Any reckless attempt to join would only become a burden to Jiraiya.
All the others could do was watch—and silently pray for him.
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